A neuropsychologist really looks at the interplay between how the brain functions and what the brain does, and how that impacts what you do in the rest of your life--socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively.The bulk of what a neuropsychologist does is that through assessment, we administer a battery of tests that tap into different functions of the brain. So some of the tests, we'll look at whole brain function.Some of the tests, we'll look really very specific functions of different areas of the brain,to kind of look at how they're all working together or not working together,and then to apply that to difficulties that people may be having in their life,as the result of an injury or an accident or some kind of disease process.It's really--largely it's a diagnostic field. that really looks at more closely why people are acting the way that they are actingbased on how their brain is processing information. A subset of that is a rehabilitation neuropsychologist who doesmuch of the same kind of assessment, but then also works in the rehabilitation worldand helps a lot of the treatment team, in terms of their ability to implement some of their therapeutic practices, based on what we've learnedabout how the brain is functioning. Neuropsychologists can do some cognitive rehabilitation themselves. Very often it is referred out to other disciplines, occupational therapy, speech therapy.We also can do some therapy, again, based on--largely it's based on adjustment todisability and injury, dealing with some of the psycho-social issues that go along with acquiring some kind of a disability,and adjusting to the fact that your brain is not workingthe way that it used to. Most people don't think about all of the stuff that their brain does, so that when it's not functioning properly, they have a sense of "I don't feel like myself," and are not quite sure why that is. So a neuropsychologist may do a lot of education about why that is, based on the results of the tests that we've got.

Neuropsychologists look at the interplay between what a person's brain does and how they act in life -- emotionally, physically, socially, and so forth.

Dr. Celeste Campbell is a neuropsychologist in the Polytrauma Program at the Washington, DC Veterans Administration Medical Center. She has a long history of providing cognitive psychotherapy and developing residential behavioral management programs for children and adults.

Comments (1)

I am a US Marine Veteran who suffered a mild Traumatic Brain Injury in March of 1981 while on active duty. I was unconscious for about 18 to 20 minutes or so (as written on US Navy Corpsman medical report in my medical record). Throughout the years that followed, while on active around 1988, my cognitive ability was affected noticeably.

The Veterans Hospital won't recognized my disability from TBI but yet from 1990 until the present I have been diagnosed with multiple mental disorders including NOS cognitive disorder. Now I am at the stage of my life where I need to get outside help from a Neuropsychologist in the civilian sector. Doing this required me to obtain a Nexus letter from a Neuropsychologist of his or her findings and in that release of information will be given from additional Veterans Hospital of my personal medical file.

I am on an ongoing going claim for benefits compensation through the Veterans Hospital. My request is ongoing of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury coexisting of Mental illness disorders. For further information would greatly support me. I've several opportunities to call upon Neuropsychologist in the San Diego County area. The Psychiatric Center Of San Diego. Please give me directional advice to support me Thank You.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to ensuring that impacted post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families are thriving long after they return home.